Amna Nawaz
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WATCH: Sen. Schmitt questions Hegseth about reinstating service members who refused COVID vaccine
Posted
January 14, 2025
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January 14, 2025
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7:05Now PlayingSen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., questioned defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth in a confirmation hearing Tuesday held by the Senate Committee on Armed Services.
Hegseth affirmed to Schmitt that the Pentagon would recruit back, with back pay, any U.S. military member who left service over their refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“I will commit to this because the commander-in-chief [Donald Trump] has committed to this, that not only will they be reinstated, they will receive an apology, back pay and rank that they lost because they were forced out due to an experimental vaccine,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth is a military veteran and conservative media personality. President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for defense secretary has faced allegations of sexual misconduct and excessive drinking, and been criticized as a nominee for his controversial views on diversity and religion in the military.
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